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Abstract
Simple SummaryAmblyseius tamatavensis is a predatory mite that can be used to control the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. This predator can be maintained under laboratory conditions when fed with pollen of Typha domingensis or the astigmatine mites Thyreophagus cracentiseta or Aleuroglyphus ovatus. The aim of this work was to compare the rates of production of A. tamatavensis in closed units containing T. cracentiseta as food, at different combinations of numbers of predator inoculated, periods of production and volumes of rearing units. The first results showed that final predator densities increased with increasing production periods up to 30–45 days, reducing afterward. Likewise, maximum final densities in each unit increased with increasing predator inoculation levels, up to 200 predators per rearing unit. The results led us to select the proportion of 150 predators per unit for a production period of 30 days to evaluate the effect of the size of the experimental unit. Then, in the second part of the study, a direct relationship was observed between volume and final predator density. Hence, it can be concluded that progressively larger numbers of predators can be obtained with progressively larger rearing units.Amblyseius tamatavensis, a predatory mite, has been mentioned as potentially useful for the control of Bemisia tabaci. The objective of this work was to compare the production rates of A. tamatavensis in closed units containing T. cracentiseta as food, at different combinations of numbers of predator inoculated, periods of production and volumes of rearing units. Final predator densities increased with increasing production periods up to 30–45 days, reducing afterward. Likewise, maximum final densities increased with increasing predator inoculation levels, up to 200 predators per rearing unit. The results led us to select the proportion of 150 predators per unit for a production period of 30 days to evaluate the effect of the size of the experimental unit. Then, in the second part of the study, a direct relationship was observed between volume and final predator density (y = 8610.25x + 2166.04; R2 = 0.99; p < 0.0001). It was also calculated that ri value was quite stable (0113–0.119), with a calculated value of 0.115 at all volumes of rearing units. It can be concluded that progressively larger numbers of predators can be obtained with progressively larger rearing units.
Highlights
The excessive use of chemicals for pest control in intensive agricultural production can cause environmental contamination and other pest problems [1]
The production of some predatory mites involves the use of phytophagous mites as food [3], but others can be produced more with the use of factitious food, especially mites of the suborder Astigmatina of the order Oribatida [4]
Despite worries about the possibility that the use of factitious food could result in the production of biological control agents less effective in the field, this had not been demonstrated, and astigmatine has been widely used in predatory mite production [7]
Summary
The excessive use of chemicals for pest control in intensive agricultural production can cause environmental contamination and other pest problems [1]. Astigmatine mites used as factitious food can be produced on stored food items, commonly their preferred substrates [5]. These mites can be offered to the predators in closed containers [4,6]. This process is relatively cheap, facilitating the use of biological control by growers. Despite worries about the possibility that the use of factitious food could result in the production of biological control agents less effective in the field, this had not been demonstrated, and astigmatine has been widely used in predatory mite production [7]
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